The Overachieving Little Husband of the Top Scholar’s Household - Chapter 128: Returning Home

Chapter 128: Returning Home

After Wen Huiyang spoke those words, he fell into a long silence.

Evening was drawing near; the thin sunlight streamed into the simple room, tiny motes of dust drifting in the air.

Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse exchanged a glance, neither understanding the reason.

But Wen Huiyang had no intention of explaining. Instead, he shifted the topic.

“His Majesty has decreed my reinstatement to my former post. Truthfully, these three years, aside from not being able to go out, I’ve lived fairly freely. Going to the Hanlin Academy every day to check in, seeing a crowd of annoying faces — now I find I’d rather not go.”

Du Yunse smiled. “Teacher, you must have guessed long ago — once I passed the palace examination, His Majesty would release you.”

Wen Huiyang sighed. “Yes. His Majesty has decided I am to assist the Crown Prince. This time, I certainly can’t escape court duties.”

Normally, to have one’s post restored and be appointed Hanlin Academy Shijiang Xueshi¹, a fifth-rank position, would be cause for joy. But for someone like Wen Huiyang, who cared nothing for rank or wealth, it was a burden.

“The Crown Prince just sent someone to deliver things to you?”

Wen Huiyang nodded. “It was that Mister Sixteen. All these years, I’ve never seen his true face. It’s not easy being the Crown Prince’s shadow guard.”

In the main hall of Wen’s residence, several chests were laid out. Rushi came over to unpack them — inside were banknotes for two hundred taels of silver, over a dozen bolts of cloth and silk, half a chest of fine wine, and various day-to-day supplies.

“Why didn’t the Crown Prince send more money?” Qiu Huanian asked curiously.

“Cough, cough,” Wen said, stroking his beard to cover his awkwardness.

Du Yunse explained, “My teacher never holds on to money. Whenever he has it, he spends lavishly, even pawns items from time to time. So it’s best to send him a little at intervals.”

During their years travelling together for study, it was hard to say who took care of whom.

Much of Du Yunse’s ability to be so accomplished at a young age owed to compensating for his teacher’s lack of skill in mundane affairs.

Wen Huiyang knew his own flaws and didn’t bother arguing with his disciple; he simply kept stroking his beard with a guilty look.

It made Qiu Huanian laugh. “I’ll remember that. Yunse and I live in Nanxun Ward now — less than half a quarter-hour’s carriage ride away. I’ll come often to check if you’re lacking anything.”

Wen cleared his throat again, but there was joy in his eyes.

Qiu Huanian presented the gifts he’d brought. Seeing only Rushi serving in the household, and that insufficient, he sent for an elderly uncle from his own home, skilled in cooking, to live at Wen’s and handle meals.

Xingmi went to a restaurant outside and ordered a fine banquet; the few of them in the main hall unpacked the wine sent by the Crown Prince and feasted happily, talking until the moon was at the treetops before Qiu Huanian and Du Yunse took their leave.

Afterwards, in the main hall, Rushi swept the floor while commenting, “The Qishu Young Master really is so generous and filial. With him and Master Du taking care of you, you’ll never have worries in your later years.”

Rushi’s words were blunt, but Wen Huiyang had never minded such things. In those three years of confinement, only the two of them could speak to each other, and the usual master-servant formality had faded.

But this time, after waiting a while, Rushi didn’t hear a reply.

Puzzled, he looked over — and nearly dropped his broom.

Wen sat in the armchair by the window, staring blankly through the half-open shutters at the moon with a missing arc. His lean, weathered face was wet with tears.

“Master?”

“Rushi,” Wen sighed long and low, “there are many things I no longer dare to ask.

“But Yunse will come to ask me sooner or later… I truly don’t know if I should tell him.”

Rushi was bewildered. “What is it you want to ask, and what will Master Du ask? Why wouldn’t you tell him?”

Wen gave a bitter smile and shook his head. “Yunse and Huanian have a happy marriage and a boundless future. Past matters will only bring them trouble.”

With that, he rose and returned to his desk to read.

Rushi could only go on sweeping, still confused.

In any case, Master’s confinement was over, and the Du couple would be living in the capital — the worst was past, and life could only get better for all.

…

After the Confucius Temple ceremony, the new graduates’ celebrations came to an end.

Those who wished to enter the Hanlin Academy as shujishi would have to stay in the capital for another selection exam. Those who did not could report directly to the Ministry of Personnel to await postings.

The court’s rewards for the new graduates also arrived — each received fifty taels of silver. For someone of Du Yunse’s means, it was nothing; but for Wang Yinzhi, it was a timely rescue.

Following Du Yunse throughout the trips and events in the capital had broadened Wang Yinzhi’s horizons, and he had started thinking about his future.

Before reporting to the Ministry, Wang sought his friend’s advice.

“Most Second-Class jinshi sit for the shujishi exam; I placed near the top of the Third Class, so I may choose a post from the vacancies. Could Yunse offer me some counsel?”

Du Yunse considered. “An outside posting for a jinshi starts as county magistrate. If you went to a frontier province like Tianshou, you might get a large county — but that’s far, and without connections at court, it would be hard to transfer back.”

Most counties in the Yu Dynasty were standard, with their magistrates ranked zheng-qipin². In frontier regions, large administrative counties equivalent to a prefecture would have magistrates ranked cong-liupin³.

Wang Yinzhi sighed. “I’ve thought of that. A big county is one rank higher, but it means going to the frontier. To the northeast, maybe; but to the southwest or southeast, my family couldn’t adapt to the climate. And borders face frequent incursions — as an untrained scholar, if I failed in governance, I’d be ashamed before the people.”

Dropping his gaze, Du Yunse’s mind stirred.

“Would you be willing to take a low-grade post near the capital?”

Wang knew Du Yunse would not speak idly. “What post?”

“Principal Secretary (Zhubu) of the Gold Division (Jinke) under the Thirteenth Revenue Offices of the Ministry of Revenue.”

The Thirteen Offices oversaw the empire’s revenues, each handling taxes, grain, and population for an assigned region. The Gold Division under them managed foreign trade and goods like fish, salt, and tea. The division’s head was a zheng-wupin⁴ Director, but the Principal Secretary was only cong-qipin, even below a county magistrate.

“Since the palace exam, the Gold Division has become a hot seat — but all the posts are in the southeast coastal areas. A Gold Division near the capital…”

And then Wang drew in a sharp breath. “Could it be the new maritime trade port won’t be in the southeast?”

Currently, Yu’s foreign trade ports were at Fuzhou, with Guangzhou nearby — both legacies of the previous dynasty’s lifting of its bans. From the exam topic hint, everyone looking to the sea was targeting these two regions; no one thought a port could open near the capital.

Du Yunse didn’t answer directly. “If you’re willing, wait for good news.”

Wang clenched his fists. “All right. I’ll trouble you for this. I’ll work hard and never breathe a word outside.”

Wang knew Du Yunse was with the Crown Prince’s faction; the maritime news was surely exclusive to them. Agreeing to take the Gold Division post in the capital region meant boarding the Crown Prince’s ship.

For now, no one knew the port would be near the capital — he’d be just a hidden piece on the board, to be used at the right time.

Having seen the capital’s prosperity, and the comfortable life of the Du household, Wang also wanted to win such a future for his family.

While Wang had to wait for the Personnel Ministry’s assignments, Du Yunse’s post was issued just a day after the memorial of thanks.

He was appointed Hanlin Academy Xiuzhuan, from sixth rank — the highest starting point for a newcomer. The letter of appointment came with three sets of uniforms: court robes, official robes, and daily-working robes.

Court robes were for audience with the Emperor; official robes for presentation of memorials or thanks; and daily robes for work within the office.

Each varied in color and cut; Du Yunse looked increasingly fine in each, and Qiu Huanian made him try them all more than once.

With his post confirmed, the decorations over their main gate could be repainted. In future promotions, it would be painted over and redone each time.

New jinshi could take up to a month’s home leave to settle affairs before assuming their posts.

With their family home in Liaozhou, a month was tight; as soon as the appointment arrived, Du Yunse requested leave, and Qiu Huanian began packing.

Fortunately, when Du Yunse had won huiyuan, they’d already sent word home. In his letter, Qiu Huanian had asked Yuncheng, Su Xinbai, and others to help Jiujiu pack for the move to the capital, so they’d save time when they returned.

The night before departure, Qiu Huanian sat under the bright oil lamp, checking the valuables:

A set of the latest gold jewelry from the capital for Jiujiu; a razor-sharp dagger for Chunsheng; exam books for Yuncheng; a jade pendant for Meng Yuanling…

He picked up a filigree gold safety clasp, inlaid with a fine green jade carved into the head of a cat. When he’d drawn up the design, the jeweler had nearly rubbed his eyes out — but the Qishu Young Master had insisted.

“We leave on the 18th day of the first month; by the time we reach home, it’ll be early April. The little kitten will be over two months old — wonder how much my godson’s grown.”

He twirled the clasp. “We’ll hang this on him — hope Xinbai doesn’t question my taste.”

If he did, too bad — his godfather had spent capital coin on it, and the little kitten would just have to wear it.

For speed’s sake, they would travel light: most servants staying to watch the house, only Xingmi, Bai Quan, and a carriage boy going with them.

On the way to the capital they had joined a security escort team for safety. Going home, there was no need:

The champion returning home was granted by the court a detachment of the capital guard for escort — both a privilege and a sign of imperial favor.

Even the great red wooden placards reading “Champion and Presented Scholar” and “Imperially Appointed Hanlin” came in a pair, to be carried before the entourage if Du Yunse wished.

But such pomp was better saved for arrival in his hometown — using it en route would only slow them down.

In the 23rd year of Yuanhua, on the twenty-fifth day of the third month:

With willows green and flowers in full bloom, the new champion Du Yunse and his husband Qiu Huanian quietly left the capital without disturbing anyone, carrying their glory and a shining future, eager to embark on the road home.

notes:

1. 1. Hanlin Academy Shijiang Xueshi (翰林院侍講學士) – Fifth-rank scholar-official lecturing the Emperor.

1. 1. Zheng Qipin (正七品) – Seventh rank in the Chinese nine-rank officials’ hierarchy.

1. 1. Cong Liupin (從六品) – Junior sixth rank.

1. 1. Zheng Wupin (正五品) – Senior fifth rank.